Banbridge claims Champion Chase while Walsh lands Grade 1 double
The 2024 Punchestown Festival got off to a flying start
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JJ Slevin (centre) enjoyed William Hill Champion Chase success with Banbridge
Joseph O'Brien's Banbridge edged a thriller in the feature while Mark Walsh and JP McManus claimed a Grade 1 double on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival, writes Ben Hart.
Doyen's top-class son Banbridge got up in the final stride to deny Captain Guinness a Champion Chase double in a pulsating renewal of the William Hill Champion Chase.
It was a redemptive victory for the eight-year-old, who delivered the perfect response to a disappointing Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham for a second Grade One triumph in the hands of JJ Slevin.
Banbridge’s groom Leah Sutton reacts to his Champion Chase win 🏆⬇️@equuipHRI | @Meghann_Scully | @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/3X7rmxnWfm
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) April 30, 2024
“I thought JJ gave him a fantastic ride and the tempo of the race wasn’t maybe as strong as we had anticipated it would be but JJ says he was comfortable through the run and he was saving as much as he could for the back of the last and he saved enough,” O’Brien told Racing TV.
“The horse found enough and I’m delighted for Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) and everyone to have a big runner.
“Ronnie’s been very patient with this horse through the autumn when conditions weren’t suitable and I think that patience has been rewarded.”
Banbridge was sporting cheek pieces for the first time over this shorter trip and needed every yard of it to secure top honours ahead of Queen Mother hero Captain Guinness and short-priced favourite Dinoblue.
With his struggles on softer ground well known, O’Brien suggests the firmer ground at Kempton Park makes next season’s King George a very attractive option.
“If you look through his form, it’s clear that when the crowd is soft he doesn’t perform as well, we took a chance at Cheltenham and it didn’t work out,” added O’Brien.
“You roll the dice and he was in great shape and it didn’t happen on the day. We knew we would freshen him up and come here.
“He deserves it, he’s been a top horse for the last number of years and he’s remarkably consistent when he has his conditions.”
Willie Mullins claimed the first Grade 1 of the week, with Aintree winner Mystical Power coming home strongly under Walsh to land the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.
The newly crowned British Champion trainer reckons Annie Power’s son could prove a genuine Champion Hurdle contender.
“I thought he was done at the second last,” said Mullins to Racing TV.
“The next thing I saw Mark (Walsh, jockey) coming out and he kept him going.
“He said he was flat out at that stage but as he got to the last hurdle he started to pick up again and I could see Mark measuring the last.
“He stayed on and he’s surprising me. As a three-year-old he wasn’t showing me anything and as a four-year-old very little too.
“As a five-year-old he’s improving and improving and hopefully he might improve enough to be a Champion Hurdle horse next season.
“He outstayed all those horses and you need a stayer in the Champion Hurdle. He’s learning and maturing.”
Spillane’s Tower proved a very popular winner in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase for trainer Jimmy Mangan.
Following his win in the Fairyhouse Gold Cup, he looks a force to be reckoned with next season and adds yet more firepower for owner McManus in the staying chase division.
“He’s a special horse to us,” said Mangan to Racing TV.
“We’re dreaming a nice bit about him because he has something special.
“I’m very fortunate to have a horse like him and equally as fortunate to have Mark Walsh. What a brilliant, cool rider he is and he really suits the horse.”
Earlier in the day, Knockiel Synge landed the Kildare Hunt Club Cross County Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup and jockey Georgie Benson teased a return on Saturday for the Donohue Marquees Cross Country Chase.
Next was an early strike for the visitors as Herefordshire trainer Tom Lacey secured his first Irish success with Tune In A Box in the Blood Stock Handicap Hurdle.
Daddy Long Legs evoked memories of State Man with a comprehensive victory in the Killashee Hotel Hurdle in the colours of Joe Donnelly, which saw Paul Townend close the gap to Jack Kennedy in the jockey standings with his 116th winner of the season.
Sermandzarak then made it two from two in the Goffs Defender Bumper for Gordon Elliott and, in the concluding bumper, Sixandahalf impressed for Gavin Cromwell.
Wednesday’s action begins at 2.30pm with three Grade 1s in store, the headliner coming at 5.25pm with the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.